Condenser.



A. FISCHER.

CONDENSER.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 12. 1912.

Patented Mar. 28, 1916.

wifnmses [HUG alibi" a su ect the German E1 AnAIaa'iiii'r manna, or PHILADELPHIA, rsnnsinvhivnh.

CONDENSER.

"Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 28, 1am.

n' ncanan filed February 12, 1912. Serial so. 677,137.

Tot/Z1710 7mm it may concern-.-

Be it lan-own that I, A'n miinnr FISCHER. I p'je or, residing at Philadelphia, county of Philadelphia, and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Condensers, fully described and represented in the following specification and the accompanying drawings, forming a part of the same.

In the use of condensers, and especially jetcondensers, one difiiculty met with has been in getting ridfof the uncondensab'le gas, principally air, which enters the condensing chamber or space and more or less of which is or becomes ent'ain'ed in the water which has to be Withdrawn from the condensing chamber or space. This air enters the condenser chamber with the steam and also, in jet condensers, with the injection water. The vacuum or air pumps commonly provided in connection with surface condensers, withdraw that part of such air which separates naturally frointhe water of condensation and collects in the upper part of the condensing space. Jet condensers have also been provided with vacuum or air pumps for this purpose. The air which remains entrained in the water, however, has been the cause of much trouble in the operation of the pump which withdraws the water from the condensing space and discharges it against atmospheric pressure, and has made it necessary to employ more expensive pumps for this purpose than would otherwise be required. Even with such pumps the entrained air gives rise to considerable trouble.

The object of the present invention is to avoid this difiiculty and also to reduce the power required to discharge the water and maintain the vacuum in the condenser, by providing improved means for discharging separately from the ater air and other uncondensable gases which may enter the condensin-g space, and especially by providing means .for' discharging separately from the water air which has become entrained in the water. a

In jetcondensers, under ideal conditions, thecon'densing water and water of condensation leave the condensing chamber at a temperature equal to the temperature of steam corresponding to the absolute pressure in the condenser. For example, under a vacuu'm of 28 inches, which is equal to an absolute pressure of 0.94 pounds, the temperature of steam is 100 F. and with the condenser working under such a yac uu m the condensing water and water of, 'condensation should leave the condenser at this temperature, that is 100 F. If "no means are provided for separating theair entrained in the water, then this airhas to be discharged against atmospheric pressure while at a temperature equal to that of the water, that is 100 F. In accordance with the present invention, however, this entrained air is first separated or extracted froin the v'ater and then cooled down and discharged separately. A large saving isthus effected in the power required to maintain the vacuum and discharge this air against atmospheric pressure, and trouble in the operation of the water discharge pump is also avoided, and it is madepossible touse a pump which would not be capable of handlingthe water with its entrained air. The air which natually separates from the water and collects in the upper part of the condensing chamber may also be withdrawn and cooled together with the air which is extracted from the-water, so that a further saving here is also'efi'ected. To make this clearer, suppose a usual condition of operation with the injection water entering the condenser at a temperature of 70 F., and a vacuum of 28 inches being maintained. and the water leaving the condenser at 100, F.; then the entrained air, it carried out with the water, would. leave at a tem ierature of 100 and with a correspondingly large volume. By extracting the air from the water, however, and withdrawing it by a separate pump after it has first been cooled by means of the water at 70, it would pass the pump at a temperature of 70 and in correspondingly small volume.

A full understanding of the invention can best be given by a detaileddescription of an approved construction embodying the various features of the invention, and such a description will now be given in connec tion with the accompanying drawings showing such a construction and modifications thereof. v

In said drawings: Figure 1 isa sectional diagrammatic view of a jet condenser emvention as applied to a barometric con-,

denser.

Referring to the drawings, and first to Fig. 1, represents the condensing chamber to the lower part of which the steam to be condensed is admitted through inlet openings 11. The condensing water is sprayed downward into the chamber 10 through spray nozzles or openings 12 from a water chamber 13 arranged above the condensing chamber and to which water is supplied under suitable pressure through a supply pipe 14 and connecting pipe 15. Opening from the bottom or lower part of the condensing chamber, is a separating or extracting chamber 20 which receives the condensing water and water of condensation from the condensing chamber, and which is formed or provided with means for extracting or separating the entrained air from the water. For this purpose the extracting chamber is formed with. inwardlyv and downwardly inclined walls 21, and with a top wall 22 which is inclined inwardly and upwardly and extends above the bottom of the condensing chamber, and is provided with a deflecting plate 23 in position to intercept the water flowing over the edge of the wall 22 and deflect it outward to cause it to strike against the upper part of the wall 21;-and the wall 21 is formed or provided with means for agitating and interrupting the even flow of the water over its surface, being for this purpose, as shown, formed with a corrugated surface providing projecting angles or shoulders to intercept the flow of the water. A plate or baffle 2st having a downwardly and inwardly inclined surface, which is also preferably corrugated, or otherwise formed to break up the even flow ofthe water, is mounted below the deflecting plate 23 in position to receive a part of the water dropping from said plate. The condensing water and water of condensation, which collect in the bottom of the extracting chamber are withdrawn and discharged against atmospheric pressure by means of av suitable pump 25.

From the top of the condenser, a pipe 30 leads downward through the water chamber 13 and into the condensing chamber and connects at its lower end .with a hood or funnel 31 which extends outward over the upper open end of the extracting chamber and downward below the level of the upper edge of the wall 22, ending short of the bottom ofthe condensing chamber, however, to leave a free water passage. The lower part of the hood or funnel thus provides, in connection with the upwardly extending wall 22, a water seal between the condensing chamber and the extractingchamber, which prevents the passage of steam from the condensing chamber into the extracting cham ber. Openings 32 in pipe 30 near the top of the condensing chamber permit the escape of air or other uncondensable gas which may collect in the upper part of the chamber. From the upper end of the pipe 30, an outlet 33 leads to a film air cooler 34, from which a pipe'35 leads to a suitable air pump, or vacuum pump, 36. The air cooler 3'1: is arranged in a water chamber 37' which is supplied with water through a branch 38 from the'supply pipe 14, and from which the water escapes through an outlet 39. Secured in the upper part of the pipe 30 is a separator 45, of wire netting, or other suitable separator, for intercepting and separating from the air rising through the pipe 30 moisture which may be carried by the air.

In the operation of the condenser, steam entering the condensing chamber and rising therein, meets and is condensed by the clownwardly moving water spray in the usual manner. The condensing water and water of condensation collects in the bottom of the condensing chamber, rises'above the bottom of the hood or funnel 31 forming a water seal between the condensing chamber and the extracting chamber, and flows over the edge of the wall 22 and falls on the defleeting plate 23and thence down against and over the corrugated surfaces of the walls 21 and baffle 24. The interference with the flow of water and the agitating of the water as it flows over the corrugated surfaces, cause the entrained air to be separated from the water, and this separated or extracted air rises through the center of the extracting chamber to the space beneath the hood 31 and is withdrawn through pipe 30 and through cooler 34 by the air pump 36. In its passage through the cooler, the air is reduced in volume, thus lessening the power required to discharge it against the pressure of the atmosphere. The condensing water and water of condensation, relieved of their entrained air, collect in the bottom of the extracting chamber and are discharged by the pump 25.

Fig. 2 shows a slightly different form of jet condenser, in which the steam enters through an inlet l1 to the upper part of the condensing chamber 10. With the steam entering the upper part of the condensing chamber it is desirable that the chamber should be larger at the top and smaller at the bottom, and the lower part of the chamher and the hood or funnel 31 are, therefore, of slightly different form from that shown in Fig. 1. The means provided for extracting the entrained air from the water flowing through the separating chamber is also somewhat different, the deflecting plate 23 and baflie 2& being omitted, and the wall 22 being arranged more nearly vertical and provided with a corrugated inner surface. The separator 45 is also omitted,

Fig. 3 shows a condenser which, aslde from the parts having to do especially with v the present invention, is similar to the condenser shown in Fig. 2, except that it is provided with a barometric discharge pipe 50 in place of the water discharge pump 25. The downwardly and inwardly inclined walls of the extracting chamber, as shown in this figure, are formed by a continuation of the lower walls of the condensing chamber, and the two chambers are separated only by the hood or funnel 31, which extends outward toward the wall of the condensing chamber to leave an opening or water passage of a size only slightly more than sutiicient to allow the condensing water and water of condensation to pass. By this arrangement, while a true water seal is not provided between the extracting chamber and the condensing chamber. yet the water flowing through the passage will substantially close the passage and provide what amounts practically to a water seal. As shown in this figure. also. instead of a surface cooler, such as the film cooler shown in Figs. 1 and 2, or other suitable surface cooler, for cooling the air on its way to the pump 26. the air is cooled as it passesupward through the pipe 30 by means of a shower or spray of water provided by means of a spray nozzle 51 to which water is supplied through a pipe from the supply pipe 14.

The cooled air passes from the pipe 30 through a pipe directly to the air )ump. This way of cooling the air, while efficient, I do not consider as good as cooling it without direct contact with water. since the water spray tends to carry down with it a part of the air rising through the pipe 30.

It is to be understood thatthe invention is not to be limited to the exact construction and arrangement of parts as shown, and to which the foregoing description has been largely confined, but that it includes changes and modifications thereof within the claims.

\Vhat is claimed is:

1. In a jet condenser. the combination of a condensing chamber. an extracting chamber for receiving the condensing water and water of condensation from the condensing chamber and provided with means for extracting the entrained air from the water, means for withdrawing the water from the extracting chamber. and an air pump for withdrawing the air from the extracting chamber. j

2. In a jet condenser. the combination of a condensing chamber. an extracting chamber for receiving the condensing water and water of condensation from the condensing chamber. said extracting chamber being separated from the condensing chamber by means providing a water seal and said extracting chamber being provided with means for interrupting the even flow of Water thcrethrough to extract the entrained air therefrom, a pump for withdrawing the water from the extracting chamber, an air pump for withdrawing the air from the extracting chamber, and an air cooler for cooling the air before it reaches the air pump.

3. In a jet condenser, the combination of a condensing chamber, an extracting chamber for receiving the condensing water and water of condensation from the condensing chamber and provided with agitating means for extracting the entrained air from the water, a pump for withdrawing the water from the extracting chamber, an air passage leading from the extracting chamber and communicating with the upper part of the condensing chamber, an air pump for drawing air through said passage from the extracting chamber and from the condensing chamber, and an air cooler for cooling the air before it reaches the air pump.

-i. In a jet condenser, the combination of a condensing chamber. an extracting chamber opening from the lower part of the condensing chamber and provided with inclined surfaces over. which the water flows and which are formed to agitate and interrupt the flow of the water, a hood extending over the open end of said extracting chamber and downward about the same to form a water seal,-a pipe leading upward from said hood, openings from the upper part of the condensing chamber into said pipe, an air pump connected to withdraw air from said pipe, and an air cooler between said pipe and air pump.

.In a jet condenser, the combination of a condensing chamber, an extracting chamber for receiving the condensing water and the water of condensation from the condensing chamber having an inclined surface over which the water flows provided with projecting angles or shoulders for agitating the flowing water to extract entrained air there from, means for withdrawing the water from the extracting chamber, and an air pump for withdrawing the air from the extracting chamber.

6. In a jet condenser, the combination of a condensing chamber. an extracting chamber for receiving the condensing water and the water of condensation from the condensing chamber, said extracting chamber being se 'iaratcd from the condensing chamber by means providing a water seal and having an inclined surface over which the water flows provided with projecting angles or shoulders for agitating the flowing water to extract entrained air therefrom, means for with drawing the water from the extracting chamber, and an air pump for Withdrawing the air from the extracting chamber and from the condensing chamber. a

' water and the water of condensation after such water has left the condensing chamber and'before it reaches said pump, and an air pump for withdrawing the extracted air separately from the water.

8. A jet condenser comprising in combina tion a pump for withdrawing the condensing water and the water of condensation from the condensing chamber, means for extracting entrained air from the condensing water and water of condensation after such water has left the condensing chamber and before it reaches said pump, an air pump for withdrawing the extracted air separately from the water, an air cooler for cooling the extracted air before it reaches the air pump, and a separator for separating moisture from the extracted air before it reaches the air cooler.

9. A jet condenser comprising in combination a pump for withdrawing the condensing water and the water of condensation from the condensing chamber, means for extracting entrained air from the condensing water and the water of condensation leaving the condensing chamber comprising an inclined surface over which the water flows provided with 1'n'ojecting angles or shoulders for agitating the flowing water, and an air pump for withdrawing the extracted air separately from the water.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ADALBERT FISCHER.

Witnesses:

THOMAS W. MURPHY, SIMON \V. SNYDER. 

